STF, police harass women in Ampaa’rai, says MP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 August 2008, 02:58 GMT]Special Task Force (STF) commandos and police in Aalayadiveampu area in Ampaa’rai district are harassing women during nights on the pretext of searches, K. Pathmanathan, Ampaa’rai Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian said. “Many residents of this area and other places in Ampaa’rai district have brought this matter to my notice,” the MP further said.

“STF camps were completely withdrawn from this area following my intervention on receiving complaints of attempts to sexually harass women during nights in March by armed men,” he said.

“STF troops attempted to molest two women in Ka’n’nakipuram and Chinnappanagkaadu on 5 August. The cries of the women had brought the neighbours to their rescue and the women had managed to escape sexual violence, with injuries.

“The women had been warned that they will be killed if the matter is reported to the police and therefore they had not made any complaints.

“Incidents of armed troops and police looking while women bathe and making untoward comments when checking the National Identity Cards of girl students have markedly increased.

“The soldiers and police climb over the parapets of houses after 10 p.m., and the women in these areas are in constant fear and anxiety,” the MP said.

He further said that action is being taken to bring the issue to the notice of Police and SLA officials as well as the President and Defense Secretary.